OXFORD ― Talking season does not award championships. If it did, coach Lane Kiffin would already have Ole Miss football’s trophy cabinet bursting at the seams.
Still, Kiffin’s mastery of the microphone has helped lift the Rebels into the national spotlight ‒ and his recent results have done the same. Ole Miss is coming off the first 11-win season in its history, and expectations are high for the Rebels as they prepare to take the stage at SEC Media Days in Dallas on Monday.
There will be jokes. There will probably be Taylor Swift references. But there are questions of substance to be addressed, too.
Here are three questions for Kiffin ahead of the event.
Does Lane Kiffin know Ole Miss football’s starting running back yet?
Baseball executive Billy Beane would approve of Kiffin’s offseason attempt to replace star running back Quinshon Judkins, who bolted for Ohio State.
The Rebels added three transfer backs in their Moneyball-style quest to recreate Judkins in the aggregate. LSU transfer Logan Diggs will need time before he’s ready to play following a bowl game injury. Rashad Amos rushed for 1,075 yards and 13 touchdowns last season at Miami (Ohio), and Henry Parrish Jr. accumulated 625 rushing yards and six touchdowns with the Miami Hurricanes.
None of those transfer backs partook in spring practice at Ole Miss, and neither did Ulysses Bentley IV, who posted efficient numbers as Judkins’ understudy last season.
So, who’s the leader in the clubhouse to start when the Rebels begin their season? Does Kiffin intend to use a workhorse back or take a by-committee approach?
The picture is hazy. Perhaps media days will offer some clarity before preseason practice begins.
What’s the deal with Deion Smith?
Ole Miss announced a list of 21 players who arrived on campus in June ahead of summer workouts.
Junior college wideout Deion…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/three-questions-ole-miss-football-100444288.html
Author : The Clarion Ledger
Publish date : 2024-07-11 10:04:44
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